Patrick Crimmins, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokesman, said management became aware on May 23 of an "inappropriate relationship" last fall between CPS Investigative Supervisor Tiffany Gann and Dyess airmen Thomas Klapheke.

As a result, two employees have resigned and two more have been disciplined.

Thomas and Tiffany's daughter, Tamryn Klapheke, died on Aug. 28 of alleged dehydration and malnutrition. He was deployed at the time of the girl's death, and afterwards filed for divorce. Their two other daughters — ages 3 years and 6 months at the time — were hospitalized and later placed with family.

Crimmins declined to comment Tuesday on how CPS became aware of the relationship.

It was not clear if the "inappropriate relationship" occurred before or after the girl's death. Information released by CPS was not specific but said that the relationship occurred "in the fall of 2012."

Gann was one of two caseworkers assigned to the Klapheke family's CPS investigation. Rebecca Tapia, CPS specialist/caseworker, was assigned to the Klapheke case, too, and was aware of the relationship between Gann and Thomas Klapheke, according to Crimmins. Both women resigned after CPS found out about the relationship, Crimmins said.

Two other local CPS employees — CPS specialists Slade King and Megan Schweigert — also were aware of the relationship between Thomas Klapheke and Gann, but failed to disclose it to Department of Family and Protective Services management, Crimmins said.

King and Schweigert have been reprimanded, reassigned and placed on a "level 3 reminder" for the violation of "social work ethics," according to a May 31 DFPS memo obtained by the Reporter-News.

Under this corrective action, King and Schweigert are not eligible for educational or extended sick leave. Crimmins said they never worked on the Klapheke case and were not questioned by authorities after Tamryn's death.

CPS first investigated the family in April 2010 when the agency received a medical report that alleged the Klapheke's 9-month-old child (Tamryn's older sister) was not being administered prescription medication for a chronic condition.

After that, the Klapheke family was investigated by CPS two more times. The last investigation was opened in September 2011 — when two Klapheke children, including Tamryn, allegedly were not receiving proper medication and treatment. CPS' last face-to-face contact with the Klapheke family was Oct. 1, 2011, almost a year before CPS Investigator Claudia Gonzalez closed the case without a last mandatory home visit.

Four other CPS employees still are under investigation for possible misconduct regarding Tamryn's death.

Bit Whitaker, Regions 2 and 9 director, retired in March, months after being placed on paid administrative leave pending an Abilene Police Department and state investigation into possibly tampering with or withholding information in connection to the girl's death. Geneva Schroeder, CPS program manager in Wichita Falls, returned to work that same month after a four-month paid administrative leave.